WAC rumors flying once more

Despite a lack of any official comment or announcement, rumors are now flying thick that the Mountain West Conference will indeed look to expand its ranks from 10 to 12 schools. Some are even tossing out headlines that two specific schools, Western Athletic Conference members Utah State and San Jose State, could be added within the next few days.

I bumped into someone at tonight’s UTSA basketball game who told me that WAC commissioner Karl Benson sent out an e-mail earlier this evening branding such rumors as categorically false, that nothing definitive has been decided. I have zero idea if that’s mere damage control or the truth; just passing on what was told to me from a highly credible source.

That credible source went on to question why the MWC, which said it will expand only if it can improve, would bother adding either school. While I disagree with Utah State, which at least brings a quality men’s basketball program and access to a key regional market, I have to say that, from the outside looking in, San Jose State makes absolutely zero sense. Yeah, you get a beachhead in the massive Bay Area market. Then what? The Spartans have been a consistent mediocrity in both money sports of football and men’s basketball. And that’s putting it kindly.

Here’s a great story by the ever-dilligent Ferd Lewis of the Honolulu Star Adversiser that illustrates the potential negatives of adding either school.

It could come down to simple availability. My UTSA source told me that Houston and SMU, both of which would be prime choices for the MWC, have told Conference USA they have no interest in leaving, and that UTEP, although it has not been contacted, has assured CUSA it will stay put. In that case, the Mountain West might have no other option if it wants to add two more teams — or more specifically, add two more teams so it can have a cash-grab football championship game, quality of the additions be damned.

If Utah State and San Jose State are indeed the picks, that would deal another devastating blow to a conference that has already been beaten to a pulp. According to said source, Benson did acknowledge that the Western would be ripe for picking at last week’s meeting in San Antonio if the MWC does decide to expand, but expressed confidence his league would only lose one team.

If it’s two…the Western can probably still survive in some form by adding non-football members, but rumor alerts of the WAC’s impending demise would be on full blast once more. Hooray.